Sponsor A Pet: FAQs

The Sponsor A Pet program is a way for you to help homeless pets even if you can’t adopt. By giving a monetary donation though our secure payment system, you will be working with the Petfinder Foundation to help shelters and rescue groups care for homeless pets while they wait for their forever home.

What is the Petfinder Foundation?

The Petfinder Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)3 public charity, that helps homeless pets by saving lives through adoptions, helping shelters prepare for and recover from disaster, and working to make sure animal welfare organizations across the country are more sustainable. Our mission is to ensure no adoptable pet is euthanized for lack of a home. Since 2003 the foundation has provided over $20 million in grants to animal welfare organizations and Petfinder.com member shelters and rescue groups.

Where does my donation go?

If you decide to donate on behalf of a homeless pet who is being cared for by a rescue or shelter that participates in the Sponsor A Pet program, your donation will go directly to the organization that is caring for that pet. As the nonprofit tasked with collecting and distributing the Sponsor A Pet funds, the Petfinder Foundation will keep 10 percent of your donation for an administrative fee. Petfinder.com, which is a for-profit website that lists adoptable pets, keeps no part of your donation.

What if I donate to a group that doesn’t participate in Sponsor A Pet?

If you donate on behalf of a homeless pet who is being cared for by an organization that does not participate in the Sponsor A Pet program, 100 percent of your donation will go to the Petfinder Foundation. The Petfinder Foundation will use your donation to provide grants to shelters and rescues so that they can better care for their homeless pets.

Is my donation one-time, or recurring?

Your donation will be a one-time donation to help homeless pets.

Will a shelter or rescue group be given my information?

If you wish to stay anonymous, you can check that option when making your donation. Otherwise, the contact information you provide will be shared with the participating rescue or shelter and the Petfinder Foundation. Your credit card information will NEVER be shared.

How does the Sponsor A Pet program work?

The Sponsor A Pet program encourages Petfinder.com visitors to help homeless pets by sponsoring the cost of their shelter and care until they find a forever home. When someone has found a homeless pet that has touched their heart but they are unable to provide that pet their forever home this program gives them a way to help. Donations are collected by the Petfinder Foundation and kept for the designated shelter. Once a quarter, these donations are distributed to the shelter, less 10 percent for administrative fees.

Where do Sponsor A Pet donations go?

Donations are collected by the Petfinder Foundation. Once a quarter, these donations are distributed to the shelter, less 10 percent for administrative fees.

Will my donation help the pet I’m sponsoring get adopted?

Yes. By making a donation in honor of a particular pet you’ve found on Petfinder.com, you are giving the shelter or rescue the operating revenue it needs to house, care for and promote all the adoptable pets in its care.

Does Petfinder or the Petfinder Foundation take a part of my donation?

Petfinder does not collect any donations on behalf of the Sponsor A Pet program. All donations are collected by the Petfinder Foundation. The donations are distributed to the designated organizations via check once a quarter. The Petfinder Foundation maintains 10 percent of all donations for administrative expenses.